Thursday, November 26, 2015

It is my most sincere wish that our lives be full of both Thanks and Giving!!

So, I missed the 30 days of Thankful on Facebook, but I do try to start each day reminding myself and thanking my God for all that I have been blessed with. Here is my short list:

A God who loves me enough to die for me

My husband, quirky, charming and patient

My kids, smart, challenging, kind, fun

My parents, gaining health, supportive, loving

My coworkers, accepting, encouraging, fun

My Church, loving, supportive, nurturing

My Friends.....you know who you are and I hope you know what you mean to me!

I could look around, like so many, and focus on my fears or what I feel I don't have, but when I examine the larger picture, I have more than some; I have less than others. My struggles are smaller than some. I am surrounded with resources, with encouragers, with people who genuinely care for me. With all this, I can do anything. Life is. It's good at times, it's hard at others. But, I am grateful from the tip of my nose to the bottom of my toes.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Happy Monday.......here we are again!! I've got some fun new images from I Brake For Stamps to share today! I wanted to break from holiday cards and make something arty this weekend. I'm loving these new Stamp Release Sheets from I Brake For Stamps! They are so much fun to play with and they all work well together!

There's
a lot going on with this card and I am completely in love with it! I
wanted to create a background with a mixed media feel to it. I started
by creating a resist using the checker board strip stamp from the Einstein Half Sheet.
I added multiple layers of color using distress inks and my nonstick
kraft sheet. Then, I layered several other images from Einstein Half
Sheet, Binoculars and Golf Half Sheet and Wood Background Half Sheet. I used white pigment ink, black ink and some distress ink. I almost didn't want to cover it up!

I
chose the main image from Binoculars and Golf Half sheet and popped it
up on dimensional tape when adding it to the project. To finish things
off, I added the cute little tag found on the Einstein half sheet with a
portion of the "Keep Calm" sentiment from the Wood Background Half
Sheet (I'm sorry if I'm confusing you, but you really do need them
all!!)

My second card features images from Glass and Eye Chart Sheet
and Einstein Half Sheet. The cracked glass image is embossed and
colored with three different blue distress inks. Great images for
masculine cards!

You can get artsy too---be sure to use my coupon code: SAVE10JANE when you visit the IBFS store!

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Happy Thursday!! With the holidays just about upon us, I'm
starting to focus on Christmas cards. While I like the traditional holy
family images, it's always fun to step outside of the box with more non
traditional images and colors. It's a nice stretch of creativity!

Today, I have two cards to share that feature the beautiful Angel Choir
image from Technique Junkie Stamps. It's a great image to color! I finished the above card by stamping onto water color paper and then using distress inks and an aqua brush to add color. I love to water color especially when I have a strong urge for the soothing effects of coloring.

When I'm not feeling much like coloring, it's still an awesome image with lots of possibilities. My second card features the Spotlight technique. It's a great way to highlight
a few of the beautiful cherub like faces:

Either way, it's an awesome image and perfect for a non traditional Christmas card. You can find Merry Christmas 2 in the Technique Junkie store also!

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Happy Wednesday, Friends!! Birthday celebrations are what's up in my neck of the woods! Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps continues a month long celebration of 8 wonderful years serving our customers! I hope you've been following along over at the Sweet N Sassy Blog for weekly deals and inspiration! I don't want you to miss anything!

Today, I have a few samples I created using Sweet N Sassy's What's Up? clear stamp set and matching dies.
The first card, above ^, is pretty straight forward and makes use of a
number of the dies--there are 15 dies in total some are chunky and some
are skinny----good for lots of creative ideas! In addition, the stamp
set is full of just the right kind of encouraging words--perfect pick me
ups!

I struggle with out of the box thinking, at times so, it's always fun to pull bits and pieces together like this--I surprise myself!

Keep in mind, for a few more days (through Thursday) your $80+ dollar purchase will include your choice of a free stamps set valued up to $15.95 over in the Sweet N Sassy Store. Be sure to use code BDAYFREESET when placing your order!

Monday, November 16, 2015

Happy Monday! It's time for an I Brake For Stamps share! Thank you for joining me, again!

It's time to start (or finish?) those
Christmas cards! I know lots of folks like to pick a design and then
make multiple cards to send out. Seeing as I bore easily and don't send
to a gigantic number of people, I like each of my cards to be unique.
Also, I have a huge collection of images and feel like they should all
get a turn!

For this card, I selected this beautiful holy family, Christmas Image, from I Brake For Stamps, as the focal point. I started by stamping the manger image and then masking it. I added the For Unto Us
background, also from I Brake For Stamps, using distress ink and then ran my water brush over to
create a sky like effect. The rest of the image is colored using
distress inks to water color, as well. I've been practicing my water coloring lately....I like the softer images you can create and, it makes me feel all arty :)

You can save on your Christmas or Holiday cards, in the I Brake For Stamps store, by using my coupon code: SAVE10JANE. Get the jump on it and shop now!

Monday, November 9, 2015

It's a party over at the Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps! We are celebrating 8 years of blessed business with a gigantic birthday bash AND, you are invited!!! Feels pretty good to be you right now, doesn't it? Make sure to visit the SNSS Blog for details and inspiration! I don't want you to miss one single thing!

I can tell you this: there's a hefty gift to be won. Be sure to leave a little love in the comment section for everyone who is hopping and sharing their talent and inspiration with you. There will be a GRAND prize of an $80 prize pack awarded to one random person who comments throughout the hop.

To celebrate, I have a cute little card and mini gift bag all ready to bring some birthday cheer! Both feature images and dies from Birthday Bash and Birthday Bash Die Set. I love playing with these adorable images!

I created my background using all of the sentiments from Birthday Bash. I used post it notes to create a frame on my pink card stock and then stamped the sentiments inside using Versamark. Then, I heat embossed with white powder. It created the perfect backdrop for this yummy looking cupcake die cut!

This close up shows the fun little prills I added that do look good enough to eat!

I was just itching to use my new Gift Bag Punch Board so, I created this fun little gift bag. It's decorated with some scrap designer paper and candles, also from the Birthday Bash Stamp and Die sets. The sentiment is from Keep In Touch, Too stamp set.

Make sure to join in the fun all month at Sweet N Sassy Stamps. Be sure to visit the blog and facebook page for more details and inspiration! Also, shipping right now (through Nov 12) is FREE with code: BDAYFREESHIP

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Happy Saturday, Friends!! Today, I'm showing off some goodies from Technique Junkies! If you are looking for some Christmas card inspiration, head on over to the Junkies Designer Blog! It's the 30 days of Christmas, over there, for your card making pleasure!

My card is a shabby chic rendition that features the Merry Christmas sentiment. I started by constructing my background using the new Fresh Chevron background stamp. The chevron image that you can see is just a shadow of the standard imprint. After inking the stamp in black, I stamped it off once before stamping on white card stock. I added a few stampings of the Ornate Medallion image using several colors of distress ink: Concord Grape, Vintage Photo and Mowed Lawn. The Vintage Photo stampings are also lighter as they are stamped off too. I added extra shading and shabby, by distressing the whole piece with Vintage Photo ink also. This helped to tone down the more vibrant Mowed Lawn ink and give the whole background a unified look.

In addition, I shaded the sentiment piece with Vintage Photo. I went over each letter of "Merry Christmas" with an aqua brush to remove some of the ink from the lettered area. This created contrast from the background and made the letters "pop" a bit. The remainder of the color was added with distress markers.

Have yourself an inky day! Be awesome. You know you can.....
TTFN, Jane

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Happy Tuesday, Sweet Friends!! Today, I have two projects to share which feature the lovely We Three Kings stamp set from Sweet N Sassy stamps! This is such a beautiful set! I love the silhouetted wise men. One of my favorite sentiments of all time is also part of this set: "Wise Men Still Seek Him."

To create the card, above, I used water color paper and several different gelatos. The combined effect created an interesting sky as a backdrop for the wise men. I added a sentiment and a few star sequins to complete this simple card. It is an easy to reproduce card if you are into mass Christmas card making!

I also used the wise men image to create a simple votive holder. Alcohol inks added color to a piece of transparency film. On the opposite side, I stamped the wise men image using Stazon ink. Simple, but interesting and, pretty to look at!

Now that November is upon us, it's preparation time for my most favorite of all holidays!! Get ready!

And, speaking of celebrations....be sure to visit the Sweet N Sassy Blog!! It's our birthday month and there is A LOT going on!! This week's promotion includes a surprise gift for you when you order $25 or more in the store! The value of your free gift goes up when your order does!! (Gifts will range in price from $2-$20!!)

Monday, November 2, 2015

Happy Monday!! I'm happy to be sharing a new design project from I Brake for Stamps!!! Bo Bella has a few new sheets in the store that I just love. So many interesting and arty images to play around with!

My project today features images from several new sheets, specifically Einstein Half Sheet and Glass & Eye Chart Sheet. The
background, features the larger eye chart image from the Glass and Eye Chart Sheet. I love to experiment with inks and other product....this time
it was a resist using the larger eye chart image and various dylusions
sprays. I was lucky enough to find an interesting piece of designer
paper scrap to finish off the background. A quick frame and the
Einstein image, from the Einstein half sheet, pulled everything together. Finally, I added the sentiment, also from the Einstein half sheet. I can't wait to play some more with these images!

You can play too! When you visit the IBFS store, be sure to use coupon code SAVE10JANE. You'll save yourself a bit of ching and be saying a happy hello to Bo Bella just from me!

Have yourself a happy day--make it a good one, the choice is yours!
Be Awesome--Jane

Sunday, November 1, 2015

It's a brand new month and that means new goodies from Technique Junkie Stamps! I'm happy that you've happened by today, but I don't want you to miss any of the inspiration! So, I'm sending you back to where it begins--over on the TJ Designer Blog--be prepared to be inspired!

Beth Norman always shines...am I right? Her projects are always so creative and inspiring! I hope you have enjoyed her blog as much as I do!

I had fun, myself, exploring color and various products as I prepared for this month's hop! I simply love the new Fresh Chevron background and think it is super versatile! In addition to the chevron background on this fun shaker card, I've used the following:

For the above card, I've used the Brand NEW, Live Love Laugh Frame along with Lover's Silhouette. First, I created a resist using the frame by heat embossing it on white card stock. I inked over the embossed frame with Lover's Silhouette and then buffed the ink from the embossed image. It's a great finishing touch for such a beautiful image. I think this combination makes a great anniversary or wedding card! The background was created using the new Fresh Chevron background, as well.

My next two cards feature the same background, Celestial Dangles, with two completely different looks. One is achieved by heat embossing the image and then applying distress inks:

I added the perfect sentiment from DreamQuotes and a few sequins to finish things off! The sentiment reads:

"My dreams know no boundaries. They fly freely on wings of light to the moon, the stars and beyond."

My final project uses the same background, Celestial Dangles, but in a much more colorful way, using distress inks direct to the stamp surface:

To add my sentiment from With Sympathy, I stamped it on vellum---I just couldn't completely cover the colorful background. The vellum was the perfect solution! The dangles still show through and complete the heavenly feel of the card.

I hope you've found inspiration here! Your next stop on our hop is Jerri Jones!! I'm always excited to see her creations! Enjoy!